Goessel council sets holiday fireworks schedule

The Goessel City Council discussed a fireworks schedule during its June 15 meeting.

The council decided fireworks will be allowed in the city as follows: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.,Thursday, July 2; from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday, July 3; 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, July 4; and to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 5.

BAK report

The council reviewed the June 10 Bicycling Across Kansas event. School Superintendent John Fast expressed appreciation to the city for hosting the riders. He emphasized the hospitality that the community extended to the travelers.

Fast finished the ride with the group and said that over and over riders expressed appreciation to him for the community?s hospitality.

The city received a postcard from a rider that was shared with the council: ?Goessel will be our best city of 2015 and one of the best of all time! Why? 1. All-out effort by many of you. 2. The appreciation you showed us. 3. Your friendly spirit and gosh, you folks can cook!?

City Clerk Jennifer Whitehead had notified KSN-TV Channel 3, and the 10 p.m. news had a segment about Goessel.

Mayor Dave Schrag said the library showed two movies on BAK day, and 250 visitors had been in the city building throughout that day. Schrag expressed appreciation for the police officers who helped during the day.

Schrag said 12 extra trash containers had been brought into town for the event. ?That helped a lot,? he said.

Karen Dalke, public works director, said there had been an electrical problem at the camper site at the city park. Schrag had heard appreciation that it was fixed immediately.

Chickens in town

Resident Jeff Nighten?gale requested that chickens be allowed in town. He noted a 1918 statement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that encouraged people to have chickens.

?We are a small rural farming community,? he said. ?We should be doing more to promote farming? and show children where meat comes from. He said benefits included healthy fresh eggs, fertilizer for the garden, and that chickens eat bugs.

The council said the issue of chickens had already been discussed three times, and the vote against allowing chickens had been unanimous. Council members mentioned smell, noise and the fact that the town already has dog and cat owners who do not take care of their animals properly.

Other business

In other business, the council:

? discussed the issue of animals that are not properly restrained and are allowed to run loose in town. Two pit bull dogs had been caught recently and were taken to Hillsboro.

Some people in town reported they felt like their lives were threatened. Another aggressive dog had also been encountered.

An existing ordinance prohibits pit bulls from being allowed in town.

? expressed appreciation for the mosquito spray. Dalke reported she had used 45 gallons of it. The spray costs $76.65 per gallon. Therefore, the spray cost the city $3,449.25.

Dalke and Schrag said the city needs to purchase a better sprayer.

?It is a two-person job? to get the sprayer set up and attached to the tractor, Dalke said, and the tractor driver gets spray in the face while spraying the town.

? heard that the tornado siren apparently had been hit by lightning. It has to be sent to Maryland to get repaired. In the meantime, the old siren has been fixed, which means the noon whistle also has been fixed. The city will still have a siren in case of a tornado.

? noted that an animal clinic for vaccinations is planned for 10 a.m. to noon June 20 at the city building.

? heard Councilor Larry Schmidt say ?recycling is still going great.? He added that people need to break down cardboard boxes and He reminded the public that styrofoam is not allowed in the recycling bins.

? heard from Schmidt that the play tube at the park had been removed because someone pulled the cable that anchored it out of the ground. He suggested chaining the trash can to the ground.

? received the police report. Officers issued one parking ticket, made three contacts, worked two cases, investigated a burglary case and an ongoing harassment case, made one welfare check, and worked at the Bicycling Across Kansas event.

? discussed an unoccupied house that has not been kept up. Some tree limbs had been trimmed on that property recently, but nothing was done with the house or garage. Residents have seen skunks, rats, mice and cats on the property.

The council had given the owner 30 days to clean up the property, but it has not happened. Demolition could cost $4,000 and would be the homeowner?s expense. The council will contact the city’s attorney to determine the next step.

? heard that three coyotes have been seen in town and discussed options for dealing with them.

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